Stateless STPM top scorer gets university, scholarship offers

Stateless aspiring teacher Muhammad Omar Mokhtar Abdul Rahman is getting some respite in the form of scholarship offers and an opportunity to study at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM).

According to a report by Sinar Harian, UUM vice-chancellor Haim Hilman Abdullah visited him and other STPM top scorers around Pokok Sena, Kedah, today.

During the visit, Omar was presented with gifts as well as an offer letter to study at the university.

“I’m pleased to say that UUM is prepared to offer them scholarships if they choose to further their studies at UUM.

“Regardless of which university they choose, UUM always prays for the best for them,” Haim said.

Apart from Omar (above), the vice-chancellor also visited Salmah Aminudin and Nurasyikin Azizan. All three had a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.0 in their 2021 STPM examination.

Meanwhile, Kosmo reported that Kolej Universiti Islam Perlis (Kuips) is offering Omar and Salmah full scholarships that would be sponsored by the Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (Maips).

“Kuips has contacted the students concerned to offer full scholarships sponsored by Maips that include full tuition fees for the entire duration of their studies.

“It also includes hostel accommodation until they finish their studies, a subsistence allowance of RM300 a month also until they finish their studies, and no registration fee will be imposed on them,” the university college was quoted as saying in a statement on Friday (Sept 2).

“If they are not given assistance, we will surely lose two gems who will inherit this nation in the future,” it added.

Friends went to uni, he got left behind

Meanwhile, the Sinar Harian report quoted Omar saying he would consider UUM’s offer.

“I am grateful for the UUM vice-chancellor’s visit and am prepared to consider this opportunity because I’m worried the process of getting an identity card will take too long.

“I wish to become an educator like a lecturer or teacher, and to fulfil my dream, I need to further my studies in tertiary education,” he said.

On Monday last week (Aug 29), the human rights group Lawyers for Liberty highlighted Omar’s plight after becoming stateless at the age of 12.

When his father brought him to apply for his MyKad, the National Registration Department supposedly flagged unspecified irregularities about his estranged mother’s identity and revoked his citizenship.

Omar told reporters last week that he was unable to open a bank account or obtain a driving license due to his lack of identification documents, and thought his chances of furthering his studies were slim.

He reportedly did well in tutoring his friends, all of whom got CGPAs above 3.0 in their STPM exams.

“Each one of them got into university but he was left behind. There is no reason for this to happen,” said activist Hartini Zainuddin at the press conference.

The media have also highlighted the plight of another STPM top scorer Salmah recently, who faced limited prospects despite her academic performance due to her impoverished family background and the high cost of tertiary education.

Their plight has also caught Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s attention, who presented Omar and Salmah with RM1,500 each during the Keluarga Malaysia Roadshow in Alor Setar on Friday.

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